by T. L Smith
21
Jasper
“Find her,” I scream, throwing the nearest thing my hand comes in contact with.
Ace shakes his head. “I could have killed her, boss,” he says.
I turn to look at him. “I could have killed you, too,” I bark.
“You love her?” He states it, but it’s a good question, and a smile forms on his lips like he’s just figured something out.
“I do not.”
“But you do,” he replies.
I run my hand through my hair. “Did I give you permission to talk back to me this way?” I ask, raising my voice.
“Sorry, boss,” he says, then steps out of the room.
The door reopens and Carter steps in. “You do love her. You wouldn’t hesitate to kill her otherwise.”
“I don’t know what I feel, but not killing her is not an option right now,” I say honestly. It’s the truth and that fact confuses me, I’ve never been in love, and I’m unsure if what I’m feeling for her is that. My emotions are all over the place, but one thing I do know without hesitation, is I don’t want her to die. Yet. And that speaks volumes about who I am.
Not many things in this life give me fear, not many things in this life I need.
My fear and my need for her are all very new. And working all that out is proving to be harder than anticipated.
“The uncle is asking to see her,” Carter says.
“He can go fuck himself.”
“If only that was possible.” He chuckles as he walks out.
“Boss, here she is.” Ace pushes Heather into the room. She’s wearing the towel that I wrapped around Isadora. She holds it up over her chest as her eyes gaze at the floor, waiting for me to speak.
“Where would she go?”
“She never told me much. Honestly, I don’t know.” Heather shrugs her shoulders.
“Think, Heather, think.” I reach for a shirt, sliding it on as I wait for her to speak.
“Maybe work. She was always working.”
“Why did you let her take your car?” I ask.
Heather’s eyes go wide. “I did no such thing. That whore stole it.”
I tsk-tsk at her. “Careful with your words, Heather. You are the only whore I see here right now.”
“What’s so special about her?” she asks.
“Does it matter?”
“Yes.”
“She’s special… to me. That’s all that matters.”
“Whatever,” she murmurs.
“Leave now, Heather.”
“Aren’t we going to fuck?”
“Leave. Now. Heather.”
She makes some sort of sound as she turns and walks out the door. I reach for my phone and dial Isadora’s number, it doesn’t even ring.
Ace is standing outside the door when I step through.
“Burn all his shit. Strip it down.”
He nods as I begin walking down the stairs to a loud scream that soon follows.
The uncle is seated in a chair, tied to it, and a ball gag hangs from his mouth stopping him from speaking. I pull it from his mouth and he spits on the floor and looks up at me with hate in his eyes. Believe me I detest him just as much.
“Where would she go?”
He smiles. “As if I’d tell you.”
Carter hands me an iron poker, one that was hanging on the fire tool set stand right next to the fire. I step over and place it in the flames and wait for a few minutes but continue to talk, “Did you know my mother would burn me? Just small ones, nothing overly large, just enough to leave a scar as a reminder not to anger her again?” I tell him, looking down at the iron poker. “This tool…” I move it around in my hands admiring it, “… she would press it to my skin until I screamed, and when she lifted it off I could smell my own skin burning. That’s not something a child should have to deal with, the fear of a mother who physically hurts you. Don’t you think?”
“You deserved it.”
I raise an eyebrow. “A ten-year-old kid deserves to be burned as punishment for walking down the stairs?” I sigh while shaking my head. Slipping on a protective glove, I pull the iron from the fire and walk over to his chair. Without hesitation I slam it onto his hands which are tied to the back of the chair. I press hard on his skin hearing the sound before I smell the distinct odor of burning flesh. He screams, it’s blood-curdling, and as I pull it away some of his skin comes with it and some is left hanging from his hand. “You still think so?”
He nods his head. “She should have killed you.” His head rears back. This man is weak, so weak, using a girl to do his dirty work.
“But you know what happened, right? I killed her.” I smile, placing the hot iron on his skin again. He screams, and Carter shoves the ball gag back in his mouth to shut him the fuck up. I burn him one more time, just for fun, before we leave.
It doesn’t take long to arrive at the club, and when we do, Benny’s there as always. He sees us and stands a little taller.
“Have you seen Issy?” Carter asks.
Benny looks to me then back to Carter. “No.”
“Do you know where she might have gone?” I ask.
He answers straight away, “She only comes here or home. And she’s mostly here. Lately, though, she’s been with you.”
I nod, looking around.
“What about the last girl she brought to our house?”
“Sharon. Her name was Sharon,” Ace says then looks to Benny. “Sharon here?”
“No, she isn’t on today. But they hate each other,” Benny says with conviction.
“That’s true. Issy didn’t like her much at all.” I smile.
“Where does she live?”
“She wouldn’t go there. You obviously don’t know Issy at all. She detests Sharon,” Heather says walking in overdressed much like she always is. She crosses her arms over her chest. “And Sharon hates her right back,” she states.
“You’re like a bad smell, aren’t you?” I say to her.
Heather scrunches up her nose, turns on her heels and walks away.
I spin back to look at Benny. “That address?”
He shakes his head. “You want me to give you my employee’s address?”
I step closer to him. “Technically, she’s my damn employee. So, yes, I want her address. And make it fast, old man, I have someone I need to catch before she runs.”
Benny grumbles something as he steps off to retrieve the information.
I smile, knowing I may just be one step closer to her.
It’s a small place, the sun is starting to rise. And before I get out of the car Carter places a hand on my chest stopping me. “She has a kid. Possibly three years old. Maybe we should wait?”
And that’s what we do, we wait for two hours out the front of this little cottage. I notice movement and decide it’s time to pay her a visit.
Knocking on the door, I hear a little girl’s laughter followed by Sharon smiling as she opens the door. When she notices me, she quickly tries to slam it shut. But I knew that reaction was coming, so I stop it by putting my foot between the door and the frame.
“Sharon,” I say. “I simply want to talk. No need to cause a scene. I’m not here to cause any trouble.”
“Momma, who’s that?”
“Go to your room and pack your bag, sweetie. You’ve got school today.” I hear little footsteps running before the door is pulled open slightly. Sharon looks me over. “I’m not inviting you in.”
I nod, I didn’t think she would anyway. I wouldn’t invite myself into my own home.
“You know why I’m here, right?”
Sharon crosses her hands over her chest. “No.” She holds the door half shut the whole time we speak, not wanting to open it fully.
“Come on, Sharon. You don’t want to lie to me, do you?”
Her eyes go wide as if I’ve just threatened her.
I guess I did.
Kind of.
“Who are you looking for?”
/> “Now Sharon… that’s the thing… I never said I was looking for anyone, now did I?”
“Why else would you be here, at my house?” she asks.
Maybe she isn’t so dumb after all.
“Is she here, Sharon?”
“Who?”
Smart girl. “Is Isadora here?”
“Why would she be here? I don’t even like her, and she sure as shit hates me.”
“But that’s the thing though, Sharon, I do. I like her. And when I like something I get very mad when I lose it. You see, I don’t lose things often, so when I do I cannot control my temper.”
“I think it’s time you left,” Sharon says, shutting the door.
But before she can shut it fully, I say, “You’ll let me know, won’t you, Sharon? If you happen to see her? It would be a shame to lose everything you’ve worked for based on a lie.” I turn before she can say another word and walk back to the car, the front door shuts and not long after one of the front curtains start to shift. I notice Sharon poke her head out to see if I’m still here. I offer her a small wave before she quickly snaps the curtain shut.
Isadora’s in there, I know it.
For two people who hate each other, they’re sure doing a good job of protecting one another.
I’ll have her back by the end of the night, and maybe then I’ll think about her punishment.
22
Isadora
Sharon’s face is red, she’s more than a little freaked out. I can’t blame her, I’ve put her in this situation. I feel absolutely fucking terrible.
“I’ll sneak out the back, he’ll never know I was here,” I say truly remorseful. I should have asked Benny more questions, I shouldn’t have brought this to her doorstep. Just because I never liked Sharon doesn’t mean I want her dead. But now I understand her a little better I feel as though I should have stayed away.
“Thugs,” she cries out while shaking her head. “And to think I wanted to be part of that world. So fucking glad I didn’t.” She picks up her daughter’s backpack, calls her name and then looks at me. “You can stay, but if you do, don’t look out the front window, and if you do decide to leave definitely leave out the back. But above all, be damn careful because they are waiting outside.”
I nod my head once. “Thank you, Sharon. I will pay you back. I’m sorry.” It’s all I can say, after all, I have brought danger to her front door.
“You have a lot going on, I realized it from the first moment I saw you. It’s why I stayed away. But please, don’t bring any more of your shit here.” She reaches for her daughter’s hand and walks out the front door. I hear her start the car and when it pulls away, it isn’t long until I hear footsteps.
“Isadooora… Isadooora,” he calls my name, taunting me.
He knows I’m here.
How the fuck he knows, I have no clue.
I’m not friends with Sharon and everyone knows it.
Grabbing a hoodie that Sharon left for me to wear, I step out the back of the house onto the porch. I notice he’s walking around, so I quickly and quietly turn and run to the front of the house opening the door. I see Ace sitting in the car, I smile as I clasp the knife I have in my hand. I can hear Jasper calling my name, and it’s like a lullaby the devil would sing to you. One you want to go to, one you’re seduced by, but you know damn well you shouldn’t be. Ace is tapping his fingers on the steering wheel when I open the passenger door, I slide in next to him.
“Fuck.” Ace goes to move his hand to his belt, but before he can use his knife I have mine slamming into his hand, going in deep until I hit the car seat springs. He grunts loudly. I smile that he didn’t cry out in pain because it’s got to hurt. Honestly, I thought he would scream blue murder, but for some reason he’s quiet. It’s not something I wanted to do, I like him, but I still have a mission and he’s one of those who should be dead. I’ve failed on that account, too.
“Press down on the gas. Now.”
He shakes his head, his teeth grinding together, my hand staying on the knife through his hand and I twist. He grunts a little louder this time. “Drive. Now.”
He presses on the gas as I turn around to see Jasper standing in the middle of the road with a smile on his face. It’s not a nice smile, more like a smirk, but I can see he’s more than fucked off through his gritted teeth.
He’s angry, a shiver wracks through my body as I turn around in my seat not wanting to think what he will do to me if he catches me right now. That thought scares me.
“What the fuck are you doing, pink?”
Turning around in my seat. “Take a left.” He does. “Right.”
“Pink…” he warns using his nickname for me. “He’ll find you. I’ve never seen Jasper so fixated on someone like he is on you.”
“Good for him.” I pull the knife out of his hand and he grunts loudly.
“Why haven’t you done it? Why haven’t you killed him? That’s what you’re meant to do, right? Kill Jasper?”
I laugh at him. “I’m meant to kill you all,” I say wiping the knife blade on the seat.
“Why haven’t you killed me, then?”
I don’t lie when I answer, “I was planning to."
He turns and looks at me, surprised. “Would you have done it?”
I nod my head. “Yes, it was just a matter of time.”
“I don’t believe you.”
I shrug. “Lucky for me, I don’t care what you think.”
He starts laughing. “Your uncle’s a real piece of work.”
“Where is he?” I demand. I need him back, and I will do anything in my power to make sure it happens.
“Where you left him, still at the mansion.”
“Pull over.”
He does so. As soon as the car is stopped I take the keys from the ignition, burst out of the passenger side and walk around to the driver’s side. “I’m guessing this car has a tracker, too?”
He nods his head. “Of course, it does.”
“Lift your hands above your head, if you move I’ll stab you.” I reach for the gun tucked into his belt.
“I couldn’t kill you even if I tried, pink.”
“Why is that?”
“The boss won’t allow it.”
“How sweet,” I say, rolling my eyes while stepping back. Jasper, with all his hearts and flowers, maybe he should really start sending them instead of telling his men not to kill me.
“It is when you think about it. I know what he would do to you if he didn’t care. If you were just another bitch. I’m going to tell you, pink, because he is, make no mistake, a ruthless fucking killer. The last bitch who thought they had a chance with him ended up in a body bag and sent back to her parents’ doorstep. But you have no parents to be sent back to, isn’t that right, pink?”
He’s right, my parents are dead and it’s all because of who they are and what they are. I loved them without a shadow of a doubt, and because of them I’m here in this very moment right now. Or, correction, I am here because Jasper chose not to kill me. I shake my head, not wanting to think of that.
“He could try to kill me, but I don’t think he will. Maybe I’ll find a way for him to kill all of you first. What do you think he would say if I told him you touched me?”
“Clever. Clever girl.” Ace shakes his head. “I can see why he likes you. But remember, pink, a zebra can’t change their stripes.”
I slide back into the car and we start driving back to the mansion. Ace’s phone, which is next to me, starts ringing. Jasper’s face appears, so I answer it.
“They’ll kill you, Isadora, the minute you step out of that car.”
“You better hope they don’t then because I’m pulling up into your driveway right now. Goodbye, lover.” I hang up the phone, and as I pull up closer to the house, I notice Carter standing on the front steps with the phone to his ear.
Stepping out of the car, I shut the door with a knife in one hand and the gun in the other.
Carter hang
s up, shakes his head as he slides his hands into his pockets.
“Who would have thought, a girl with pink hair would make my boss lose all train of logical thought.”
“Must be some magical pussy, right?” I joke with him, but my hands never leave either of my weapons.
“Must be,” he murmurs. “If you come in here, Isadora, I will prevent you from leaving. And you will not be taking your uncle with you.”
“I came for him. I will be taking him.”
“Why so selfless with him? He doesn’t give two shits about you.”
“You don’t know that.”
I take the first step, then the second, until I’m standing in front of Carter. “He gave you orders not to kill me, correct?”
“Correct.” I step past him and inside the mansion. Shit, it stinks. It didn’t smell like this when I left. I scrunch up my nose and screw my eyebrows together. “Oh, that smell… that’s your uncle’s skin. Stinks, right?” He chuckles.
I turn fast and shoot, Carter drops to the floor hard and fast, his hands clutching at his leg where the bullet went through.
“Hurts, right?” I laugh while walking past him. My uncle’s tied to a black chair, his eyes are shut and his hands are badly burned.
“Uncle.”
He lifts his head and looks at me, shakes it, and pulls on his restraints. I still hear Carter whinging and swearing from where I left him in the main entryway.
“Untie me. Fast.”
I slide the gun into my skirt and start to untie my uncle. He smells, bad. Burned skin and body flesh is an acrid smell, one I honestly don’t want to have to encounter again. I have to remember to breathe through my mouth instead of my nose as I move to the other side untying him.
“Did they do anything else to you?”
He shakes his head as footsteps come into view.
Jasper’s standing there with a hard look on his face, as he looks from me to my uncle.
“That’s two men you’ve injured today, Isadora.”
I shrug.
